Jalebi, Movie Review: Rhea Chakraborty's Long, Sobbing Journey With Her Estranged Husband Is Just About Worth Your Ticket

You can go for it, but is this what Vishesh Films is known for? Having grown up on their content and treasured it, I felt that the Rhea-Varun-Digangana complicated triangle had all the raw material to be handled better

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Jalebi, Movie Review: Rhea Chakraborty's Long, Sobbing Journey With Her Estranged Husband Is Just About Worth Your Ticket
Two And A Half Stars

That thrill which was present in every Mahesh Bhatt movie as to what will happen next- be it even a straighforward story like Naam and Arth (both masterpieces, mind you)- has just disappeared from the Vishesh stable. This was indeed a vishesh company, which had a vishesh ear for even music, a la Raj Kapoor. But today, their songs, including those in their today's release Jalebi even if hummable, are reptitive and forgettable. So Bhatt saab's touch is clearly felt in the film but only from the periphery. Pushpadeep Bharadwaj (another newbie in Bollywood) has again let the creative company of two famous brothers (Mahesh & Mukesh), down. The first-timer does not make the ship sink but in the end you wonder whether you wanted to know Rhea Chakraborty's long story told in a train on what went wrong in her marriage with Varun Mitra. Got it? They have the story, they have the songs, they have the guidance- but the soul is missing.

 
A Still From Jalebi
A Still From Jalebi


Rhea looks extremely attractive and acts pretty well. Didn't like Mitra much, he's a bit clumsy unless he's doing the emotional scenes.  Digangana Suryavanshi (yes, she is in FryDay too) passes the muster. But what also needs to be asked is that why are there scenes and side stories of other passengers in the train- where Rhea bumps into Mitra and his wife Digangana- who have no relevance to the story--- that Sardar, that singer, that old couple. Remember Raj Kapoor made Sangam with virtually 3 people?  Pushpdeep isn't shabby, but lacks the punch to give justice to the Vishesh banner known for its very strong content in the past. Add this to the fact that the editing leaves a lot to be desired, as the second half makes you look a bit too often at your wrist watch (or the mobile if you have stopped wearing one in today's times).

A Still Of Rhea Chakraborty From Jalebi
A Still Of Rhea Chakraborty From Jalebi

The end too is pretty unconvincing when Rhea's pent-up turmoil comes to an end with just a brief scene with Digangana. And wonder how mama's boy Mitra, quickly set up a travel company and a new plush office with Digangana when he broke up with Rhea on just that being their largest bone of contention?


Come on Bhatt saab. We have been wauting for a good one from you since a long time, now. Is it gonna be Sadak 2? As for your latest one, I am going with TWO-and-HALF.




Image Source: twitter/Rhea Chakraborty